Free Soul to Take by Helen Bateman Page B

They’ve invited us over for a celebratory lunch tomorrow. What have I done Eliza?”
    “Wow! I didn’t see that one coming. I guess it’s not about what you’ve done but what you’re going to do now, honey. We need to think fast tonight.”
    I knew Eliza wouldn’t judge me or hate me. Life is so much easier to face when someone is unconditionally on your side.
    “As I see it, you have three options.”
    “Go on,” that’s three more than I thought I had.
    “Well, you could come clean and tell the truth. I wouldn’t hold out much hope for your future as a couple though; he’d never trust you again. But at least you’d be free of the burden of such a huge lie.”
    “I can’t live without him or with the embarrassment of coming clean about what I’ve done. It was hard enough telling you,” I could never repeat my confession to another living soul, “What else can I do?”
    “You could go along with the idea for a while then fake a miscarriage.”
    It’s not a pleasant option but worth consideration.
    “Or failing that, have you thought about actually having a baby?”
    “What?” I can’t believe what she’s suggesting. Babies are not in my plan for a long time yet.
    “It’s not so ridiculous, Vicky, you’re great with my kids. You’d make a good mum. You must have thought about starting a family one day? You’re no spring chicken!”
    “Well, yes, but not yet. I’ve got too much living to do first. I want to do better at work and see more of the world before any of that nonsense.” Could you imagine me at Barbara’s toddler group in that smelly village hall? Or gossiping in the playground about who’s knocking off who?
    “It seems to me, you haven’t got a lot of options, honey.”
    She’s right, you know, as always. None of these solutions are perfect but all I know is I can’t lose Dan or my home. And if it means getting my wedding day after all, it’s a price I might have to pay.
    “I know you too well to know you won’t come clean so you need to just go along with the whole pregnancy thing for now. But you’re going to have to act quick if you’re going to see it through and actually have a baby.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, only elephants gestate for two years!”
    “Eh?”
    “Feasibly you could be a week or two out with your dates and I know my kids were all born well after their due date. So you’d have to get working at it ASAP, if you know what I mean,” Eliza has always had a way of making me laugh when she winks at me.
    I’m getting the idea, “So I need to get pregnant now.”
    “Or pretend you are and fake a miscarriage. Either way you’ve got some serious thinking to do, honey. Wash your wine glass up and put it away because either way, Dan won’t want to think you’ve done half a bottle with me tonight and he’ll be back shortly. Right. I’m going to get a taxi booked and get home for my sister - she’s been watching the kids. Ring me tomorrow after the lunch thing. Keep your chin up. Remember, you are a newly engaged, pregnant lady, who will be getting married. Smile.”
    Yet again, Eliza has made things better. Her words and her hugs are the bandages of my life. Being a mum hasn’t ruined her life and if I was half as good at it as she is, I’d be okay, wouldn’t I?
     
     
     

 
    NELL
     
    I can’t believe it’s three o’clock in the morning. For all the lights are dimmed, there is no real rest to be had in here. If I had a pound for every time that hideous woman opposite me has rung her bell tonight, all our money problems would be solved! There she goes again; she’s got the nurses buzzing around like flies on dog shit. I’m sure I heard her say she’s only in here with gastric ‘flu. Crikey, now Snorer’s started again next door. I swear I thought only men could make that kind of noise when they slept. If only they hadn’t done my D and C so late last night, I think I’d be home in my own, comfy, quiet bed by now. I have to